Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
1 timothy 5:19–20
There are two important points here: Good leaders need to be protected from bad people. Good people need to be protected from bad leaders.
Protection for good leaders
Godly leaders will always be under attack from the enemy. Calvin says, “None are more exposed to slanders and insults than godly teachers. They may perform their duties correctly and conscientiously, yet they never avoid a thousand criticisms.”
The pattern is always the same. Some story goes around. Then people say, “There’s no smoke without fire.” Martin Luther said that there are two evils here: promoting rumours and untruths, and being willing to believe the evil and not the good. Satan works havoc in the church through these things, so elders must restrain them.
Accountability for bad leaders
Leaders who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that others may take warning (5:20). Paul is talking about a leader who harms the church by his sin, and he says that the elders have a responsibility to hold leaders accountable. Pastors are called to lead, and the church board holds them accountable for their leadership.
A fellow elder or church warden might say, “We’re looking for a pastor, but we don’t want anyone telling us what to do.” Sometimes it is because elders or wardens want to run things themselves. Sometimes it is because they have been hurt by an authoritarian pastor. If you were bitten by a rottweiler, it’s not surprising that you might be drawn to a poodle.
We don’t want poodle pastors, and we don’t want rottweilers either! We want leadership and accountability, trust and submission. These are good gifts from the Lord, and we should be thankful for them.
What role might you play in protecting good leaders from bad people or protecting good people from bad leaders?
